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‘Don’t Skimp On The Snakes!’ L-Prime Appraises Tonight’s STUDIO 60!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
Canada continues to get “Studio 60” a day before we gods-fearing Americans, and our star Canadian spy “L-Prime” tells to what we Yanks can look forward:
What’s it called?
“The Harriet Dinner”
Who’s responsible?
Teleplay by Sorkin, based on a story by Eli Attie
What does TV Guide say?
“Part 1 of 3. The cast and staff attend a dinner in honor of Harriet, while Jordan and Danny are stuck on the rooftop. Meanwhile, things between Harriet and Matt deteriorate.”
What is TV Guide not telling us?
While the romance is indeed the order of the night, Jack sets the mission to keep the Asian daughter on the straight and narrow, and Simon continues his asinine vendetta against Darius.
So, romance moving front and centre?
Very much, indeed so. The Matt/Harriet piece at least took a somewhat realistic turn, with some real, grown-up interchange, but both Danny/Jordan and Tom/Lucy fall prey to elongating of plot/ridiculous contrivance. I said previously that it could be a welcome turn, but it really needs to feel more organic than this.
Danny still coming off all stalkery?
Not so much. I think Sorkin caught on to the vibe he put across last week. The pursuit is by no means over, but there’s definitely some self-realization at work.
Hey, you forgot about Timothy Busfield last week!
Yeah, I don’t really remember him showing up last week. But even with his directing stint this week, he’s got the best subplot, involving Dora the Explorer and two-dozen poisonous vipers.
Lucy. You forgot Lucy too.
Her budding romance continues, and she’s as delightful as ever, minus the stupid roadblocks thrown in the way.
Any movement on Macao?
Tom goes on the date with the daughter, but it’s played more for laughs than plot progression.
Anything with the humour/show-within?
Masi Oka shows up as the host for next week filming a promo for Harriet and gives one of the best meta-digs of the hour.
So, is this part two of three?
Actually, according to TV Guide, one of three. And THIS feels like preamble, setup, what you will. Last week felt self-enclosed, whole. This week, not so much.
What’s good?
“Yeah, I’m gonna keep talking until I’m done, then I’ll give you a second.”; the furthering of the realization that putting Nate Corddry in costumes is funny; “You just…” “Oversaw the whole thing.”; “I looooove event TV. I don’t watch it, but I’m crazy about it.”; “These snakes are your problem.” “Of course they’re my problem!”; “It’s always something like that.”; “You knew about it.” “…Bid $5301.”; “Hey, an award’s an award.”; “Simon’s gonna kick his ass sloooooow.”; “You know you’re going to need to act, you can’t just do your funny voices.”; Masi Oka!; “So if they bite you, you what?” “Go into anaphylactic shock.”; the militant fruit thing is about as funny as you’d expect – fittingly to show the jackass side of Simon; “No no, I’m very young and … physically fit.”; Lucy Davis! (and I do like how instantly her affections changed from Simon to Tom); “Nothing! It’s slang…”; “Good, don’t skimp on the snakes!” “Yeah!”; the entire rest of the snake thing; “Star Wars…”; “And the address of Skywalker Ranch is?” “5858 Lucas Valley Road.”; “He called it.”; “Eighteen.” “Thank you.”; Loving More; “You think snakes don’t know how to crawl up?”; “Hi Tom.”; “Your best isn’t going to do it Tom, you need to do someone else’s best.”; ‘And then what?”; “What goes in after the coyote?”
Not so good?
I really can’t figure out what in the hell they’re trying to do with Simon; Harriet’s ‘lock on a best supporting actress Oscar’ feels more than a little tenuous; I don’t like that Luke dude … I don’t like that Luke dude at all; that they resorted to the oldest trick in show business to get Danny and Jordan together (but at least they admitted it); the ridiculous, arbitrary obstacle put between Tom and Lucy (or, hell, everybody at this point); Simon, basically as a whole at this point. Where some thought last week as too much setup, not enough payoff, I thought it worked (though, as mentioned, turns out that the three-parter didn’t start until tonight). This week, however, felt very padded. The only thing that really clicked was the general banter, and the entire Cal subplot.
Rating for 1.13 (out of five)
*** (for the ep as a whole, but aficionados can add ½* for some good gags)
10 p.m. Monday. NBC.
Yahwah Weewah!! Borat - Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan!!
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This is still one of the only shows I watch from the new season, and i still really enjoy it.
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always wanted to do that.
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I think.
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the sky is blue, water is wet, and your nails keep growing after you die...commence whining...
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THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS TOO CONSERVATIVE!!! THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS TOO LIBERAL!!! THE INDEPENDENTS ARE TOO MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!!! THE GREEN PARTY IS TOO ...uh... GREEN!!! THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY IS TOO.... LIBERTY-LIKE!!! OK, I'LL SHUT UP NOW!!!
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..by white supremacists who were actually gunning for Marty Sheen's Chief of Staff?
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Yea I was VERY dissapointed to see this tired, WAY PREDICTABLE thing done with them. Matt gives Tom this unbelievably retarded advice (which, Tom think it's best to listen to Matt on matters of dating??), when every viewer looking a the screen was SCREAMING that he (Tom) could have and should have told Lucy the truth about the date and she would have MORE than understood perfectly fine. Lame lame lame.
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Whooooa boy, those that thought she looked tasty last week in the lobby of the symphony performance, HOLY SHIT she looks downright spankworthy in her dress at this dinner for Harriett, with her hair down and everything. Hoochie mama
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Masi Oka is in this week's episode, but is it this week or next that features some Heroes sketches? I heard something about Harriet dressing up to do a "Save the cheerleader, save the world" sketch. If and when Heroes referencing happens it will have to feature in trailers and the opening segment to hang onto some of the Heroes audience. I'd like to see if such a stunt could make any more of those who watch Heroes try out Studio 60.
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I thought it was better than last week's, and every situation in this episode I thought was really enjoyable. Everything dealing with the snakes is great. Tom and Lucy's first conversation is fantastic. Danny attacking a "snake" is really goo, and seeing the Icetruck Killer not playing the Icetruck Killer. I'm fairly certain this IS part two of three, and it really does leave you wanting that third part, and nomihs, where did you hear this renewal news?
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Liberal coming outta La-La Land, I'm used to. It's just the whiney smugness that gets under the skin. SMUG ALERT!
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Everyone on this show has such a lively, vibrant sense of humor. And such impeccable timing!
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That would push it from "mild disappointment" to "train wreck" in the blink of an eye.
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Sorry. Wrong show...
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I LIVE for that come Monday morning. Where's it at, Herc?
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Love that show. Where's the love, Herc?!
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which is why there's no talkback. There'd be one for The Cheetah Girls III if they got an advance copy. Sorry, there was no hot water in the shower this morning, so I'm grumpy.
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I don't care for it.
It insists upon itself.
There I said it. -
but only when comparing it to the best of Studio 60.
I don't quite like how Macau, such a beautiful place, is talked about like some cash cow, just a business deal. But they are atleast trying to do with as much respect as possible...I hope. Also didn't like the turn Kim Tao (the Asian daughter) took, kinda disappointed after this episode.
I love this show, and love the fact I get to watch it 24 hours earlier. Thank you CTV for cramming so many shows on your channel you're forced re-schedule some like this one, and The O.C. which airs an hour earlier. -
As I mentioned above, can't say I think this week was better than last week (too many relationships tampered with too artificially for my tastes), but I will say that the Matt/Harriet thing felt the most realistic and grown-up that it ever has. Some things that needed to be said were said, finally, and it should throw some decent changes in from here on. To captboulder asking if tonight's ep focused on Harriet: no, not more than about 1/3 -- but ironically, it was the stuff that worked best, so we might have been better served getting a bit more. It was the rest of the show bringing the rating down from previous weeks, and the drawn-out, 'this is part of a to-be-continued' pace that ended up more of a problem. Basically, up to this point, the writers had done well in pacing continuing story lines, but here it felt very fabricated.
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It's the ultimate love/hate show for me. Sometimes it's brilliant and other times I want to wring Sorkin's neck. Usually the love stories are the weak points of the show; Danny and Jordan was going well until last week's stalkerfest. However, if they handle Lucy & Tom right, I could definitely get behind that since both of those characters are so likable.
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of "sitcom" relationship situations. The lamest is "Oh no, I have 2 dates for the prom!" It was so terribly obvious what would happen from the moment he was given the advice on what to do. How dumb is he that it never occured to him that she wouldn't find out? He was at a function with several people from work. A function that is being covered by the press. Maybe they will make it work but to me it seemed like lazy writing; relying on sitcom-style situations that were old when we saw them on Happy Days. That being said, I liked the rest of the episode and look forward to next week.
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...i'm not at all into "24", dosen't do a thing for me, but thats just me. but it would NEVER occur to me to go into that talkback and piss all over the show. and i definatly wouldn't waste any of my time actually WATCHING a show i didn't like.....guess i'm just funny like that.
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You are funny like that and Studio 60 is on right after a pretty cool show. That's why the TB hate. Plus, liberals are such a serious bunch, it's fun to get ya riled up. ;o)
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....so i guess i MUST be a liberal because i watch studio 60 and not 24? so i take it most people must be fat and lazy since they can't get up to change the channel after "heros" is over? ah, leaps of logic abound
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Yes, it was obvious what would happen by the end of the episode, but I sincerely doubt tht this event will stop them from getting together ultimately. It will just take 5 weeks now, as opposd to 3. And he'l get the chance to wooher back. In spite of how what happened with him upset me, he's quickly becoming my favorite character.
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Fat and lazy people don't use spell check when typing HEROES. Plus, I didn't infer that you were liberal, Einstein.
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I did say "ya". I'm the Einstein.
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...but watching it bores the ever loving fuck out of me. It's exceptionally well written from a dialogue standpoint...for a sitcom. But it's not a sitcom. It's trying to be an important show about real-world issues and clearly does have important things to say (last week's studio board meeting, for example). But when I look at the actors, I see actors eagerly waiting (but not long and just barely containing themseleves during that time) to deliver that next expertly written, ever-so-tersely insightful piece of dialogue. It makes it almost impossible to suspend my disbelief that these characters are anything but actors in a show about putting on a show that makes fun of everything (in that way, it's self aware on at least one too many levels). If they wanted to really pull at my heart strings, they'd make the characters fumble for words ocassionally...like real people do. Again, I enjoy the show, but really only in the background while I'm working on the computer or making dinner or something. It's not must-see TV, but it's worth hearing.
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....just kind speaks to a larger point i'd like to make. you see the matt and harriet relationship is kind of a nice anology for todays america. THEY can't get past their red state vs. blue state diffrences, and since they let those diffrencens define their realtionship they are going nowhere fast. and thats JUST like the problem facing this country at the moment, everyone is in such a rush to define the "other side" we fail to reach any kind of REAL solutions.
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I agree. Learn how to spell Einstein, liberal. Just kidding.
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hey, it's hard to spell check when you're multi-tasking, i'm replying to talkbacks AND searching porn AND sending out e-mails for greenpeace AND watching sportscenter AND cleaning my handgun. sometings gotta give ya know? ;)
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I know the point you're making, but characters do fumble for words. Last week Lucy wasn't even saying actual words as the nervousness of her date with Tom entered her mind.
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I think anyone who's been watching this from the first ep would agree that they've toned it WAY down. Personally, I think that's a shame. I didn't think the density of the characters' speeches was the problem, I thought it was the content and the plots that demanded it. Part of what I always enjoyed about Sorkin's dialogue and his work in general was the 40s rapid-fire speech and the fact that his characters never became lost. It took something completely unexpected to throw them, conversation was never going to do that. And when a character was thrown for a loop, it was because they had to incorporate something that challenged them -- that was always the moral/ethical/emotional point of the episode.
I'm close to the point where I just can't recommend this show and I think the article on chud.com today made the point well -- Aaron Sorkin is losing the goodwill he had in store and we're all waiting to see him redeem our faith in his abilities. Studio 60 generates sharp opinions because 1. fans of Sorkin can't figure out what's wrong with one of their favorite creative talents and why this isn't matching up to his previous work, and 2. it wants to be smart but it is being diluted to try and appease the Nielsen families and the network that put a lot of money into it's creation.
Plus, this episode seemed like an episode of Ed. When Ed got really annoying and the writers couldn't figure out enough ways to stop Ed and Carol from being a couple. And just like in Ed, the minor cast members are much more interesting and compelling than the stars.
Final note for the moment: where the hell is Thomas Schlamme?!? -
"The Christmas Show" was fantastic, but it SCREAMED to be directed by him.
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...was the TalkBacker above just wishing or is there news that this is getting renewed?
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Why is this man not doing features?
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He directs a lot of shows -- maybe he likes the discipline. Plus, I think there's a big difference directing a TV show: on a movie, you're the field general, in TV you can be the drill sergeant.
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I don't think it's renewed. I've heard nothing, and it seems strange that they'd make the decision before seeing how The Black Donnellys performs in the timeslot, so it's probably not true. I haven't been looking at the ratings though. Has it at least maintained what it was getting in the first 11 episodes?
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...but I don't think it's seen a horrendous drop. Actually, not great: 5.3/8 last week, compared to a 10 before Christmas. It adds about another million through DVR (one of the most watched time-slipped shows) but at the price the show is costing them? Can't see it coming back. Which will be a shame and a relief, to be honest, I'd rather see Sorkin working on something else and yet I'm really beginning to like a lot of the characters.
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I can understand people's complaints, but I'm loving like 90 percent of what I've seen. And I'm afraid that if it is cancelled, it'll be years before he does something again, and even then people will be bringing this show up as a negative. They just need to find ways to cut costs.
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Any ideas? The sets are built so there are minimal additional costs there. You can't cut Perry or Whitford. Peet is extremely expendable, but only if Jack is brought more to the fore -- whatever happened to all the tension between him and Matt and Danny, anyway? Lose Harriet. Develop the camraderie between the staff. Hell, if nothing else they need to stop having half the characters so scared to death of Matt -- he's a putz. They need to get over it. There are good actors in the supporting roles, they need to start using some of the strengths they have and then lose the glaring weaknesses.
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I've warmed up much more to Harriet, but she's still the weakest in my opinion. I'msure Evan Handler and Carlos Jacott were not exactly cheap, so I can understand why they got rid of them. I hope they keep McKinney though as his character is great, and he's already employed on the show.
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...Harriet goes away. Takes the feature, decides to go be a real actress. Actually more fun would be to have her do that and the movie fail -- and then have Matt refuse to let her come back. That would stoke some fun tension. Jordan is replaced as Jack gets demoted after the Macao debacle and he becomes the hands-on exec, which would allow Sorkin to be much more critical of the network process. Plus, that gives Danny someone new to bounce off, an old enemy and the person who replaced (though unintentional) the woman he loved. That cast loses respect for Matt after the mess with Harriet and he has to work harder to get them back -- the upside is that the ass-kissing they've been doing since he returned is finished. The writers come into their own and Simon gets a hefty dose of humble pie at some point that removes the obnoxious cocky attitude that we've seen recently. Tom is still a bit of a fumbling mess -- hell, just keep on putting him in dumb outfits. And keep McKinney: he's gold in every scene. Now, the only problem is that we need a second season... :-)
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At first I assumed that TV Guide was wrong and that this was part 2 of 3. But then I noticed that this week's episode said "To Be Continued" and last week's did not. Not conclusive, but this does suggest that this was Part 1.
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...the show you just described is one I'd be interested to see. Harriet is a caricature. She's there primarily to be the butt of easy jokes and she's written so dumb/thick that I can't honestly believe a guy like Matt would be so into her. But she's got pluck. I guess that's why Sorkin keeps her around. Conversely, Jordan is written to be so smart, so coollycalculating, that any effort at human expression by Peet comes off as a slip in her maintenance of the character. Come to think of it, maybe those moments are just slips. Peet isn't the greatest actress in the world. And if SImon's role on the show is going to continue being what it has been of late (self righteous ethnic anger unjustified and unchallenged), I wouldn't be sorry to see him go, either (of course, losing Harriet would probably cut the balls off his character anyway, so that might not be necessary). And to have Jack more in the thick of the day-to-day would be fantastic. I'll keep listening to the show in the hopes that somethig like what you described develops. Or until it's cancelled, I guess.
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Hahahahaha. Sorkin, you lose again! Love, A Conservative and a Christian.
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Last night's CSI: Miami rerun trounced Studio 60, with a 9.1 rating compared to Studio 60's 4.8. I can't see this show being around much longer considering its cost... I won't really shed a tear - it's been so spotty since the get-go. I'll chalk it up to a wasted opportunity: Lots of talent around, but it doesn't always show it.
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"Sorkin, you lose again!"...When did he lose before? Sports Night was cancelled, but HBO offered to buy it for a lot of money ONLY if he came with; He created and wrote almost every episode of The West Wing, which is arguably considered one of the best dramas in a long time, and when he is fired from the show, it mysteriously no longer gets it's "Best Drama" Emmy which it did every year when he was involved; On top of all of that, he's written great movies, with a new one on the way. Yes, okay, Studio 60 may be cancelled, and a lot of people don't like it, and that WOULD be a failure. But due to all ofhis insane successes, he's hardly in the red. Hell, had he not been so successful, Studio 60 would have started with much lower expectations, and the ratings it was getting now my even have been acceptable.
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It was in fact part 2. "Monday" was the "unofficial" first part I suppose, as these three episodesare closely linked, but because of the name change from "Monday" to the "Harriet Dinner", it probably just seemed easier to do what they did. In TV Guide though, it's said part 2 of 3 though.
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NOOO! Say it isn't so! You are so charming and delightful.
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Hey you forgot the Hillary '08 dramady, Commander in Chief! Just getting a rise outta big guy. Still, I'll laugh.
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That was weak, almost West Wing season 5 weak. The only thing that saved it from being that bad was the "Save the Cheerleader" bit. Did Sorkin and Busfield really do this episode? It was just..off. Everyone has an off night, so I'll forgive this episode, but if they do not raise their game, the show will be gone. It hurts that Tim Kring, with the success of "Heroes" has been able to get his other show "Crossing Jordan" on Sundays at 10/9 central. That is where "Studio 60" needs to be in order to have the best chance at building a strong, cult-size audience.-----later----m
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Deserves a second season and there's nothing NBC is going to come up with that is going out perform this. Following Heroes is like following LOST which we all know has killed shoes faster than anything. At least ABC gets it and realizes nothing can follow Lost when switch it to 10pm on Wed the rest of this season.
Studio 60 would be a killer Sunday night 10pm program or NBC should have some real balls and give it the 10pm Thursday to seamlessly integrate comedy Thursday. It could even follow 30 Rock since they are 2 very different shows.
Hopefully, the network realizes this one should be given a 2nd season...and whoever posted what he thinks should happen for next season, I think you're right on. Harriet should leave, do the movie and fail and need to come back to the show...or even better, Harriet should leave the show for the movie only to be recast for a bigger name by the studio...that's how Hollywood works. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler would never get that kind of a part. -
son of a preacher man, and I LOVE this show, though it can be mediocre at times, though the pilot was one of the best hours of television I've ever watched. Sorkins dialoge alone makes it watchable, though I get the feeling the arc's aren't really planned out, and maybe Sorkin hsa to much pride to listen to any kind of critisism. There needs to be a season 2, or I will cry, and today is my birthday, that is all.
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not Aaron Sorkin. MTGHEDJ, Crossing Jordan has been on Sunday at 10 for years, if not since it began. Timeslot it has now has no relation to Heroes or its success. But I agree that it would be better there (since that's the day and time I watch it anyway).
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hope it was good
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Judging by the episode guide on Wikipedia this would seem to be an unofficial part 2 of 3 or official part 1 of 2 (as "Monday" was closely linked to this story). I was going by the review which stated that TV Guide said that this was part 1 of 3. Thank goodness there's only one more part as I don't think these storylines could survive being stretched out further.
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You are right, sir, I stand corrupted.
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The Christmas ep was brilliant and these last two were solid. Last week was definitely too stalkery, but it was good to see Danny and Jordan get some real dialogue going. Even if they did have to use the second oldest trick in the book to do it.
For the record, I actually think the oldest trick is having the girl sweet talked by an obviously wrong guy, causing the guy "she supposed be with" to get all protective and jealous and realize what lost and... Oh, yeah, they did that one two.
At least its not as bad as that really old one where, some ridiculously unlikely scenario and some very stupid and unnessary lying causes the girl to think the guy has another girl on the side and... What? They covered that one too?
My real question. Where's older writer dude from Slings and Arrows? I hope he keeps writing the sketches behind the camera if they don't put him in front.
I agree about Simon, enough already, explain why he's being an asshole already, like the real reason we haven't heard yet. Or just have Darius step up and unexpectedly kick the everloving shit out of Simon.
But yeah, Darius has too much class for that, have the British chick do it, writer solidarity dude. -
That thing where you use a cliche but make it okay by having your characters comment on what a cliche the situation is? Not working anymore. It's still a cliche. ***** I love this show, but what was this episode, "Love on a Rooftop" meets "Snakes on a Plane"?
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